Show rv f 1 I v ON THE DOWN A MOUNTAIN TRACK A RUNAWAY TEAM TRAM A tie tale of old state das D in to the th asiar mountains loaA A doren alair breadth locates A broken wheel wheat rt at leat ono one night I 1 woe was crossing croe eing the sierra norada in a stage I 1 was tho the only passenger aboard and bonco had a lonely and dreary nighton night of it tho the long clow alow pull of tho the ascent had con enmon all of tho the foro forepart part of tho the night and much of tho the early morn it was about 2 when tho the summit was roa chod all unawares to either myself or tho the driver in front for in the bedl of tho the long climb and anti tho the and solitariness of tho the eur our rounding wo we had lind fallen suddenly them was a sharp rolling of at the wheels a violent jostling of tho the robts and wo we both awoke to tho thu con that wo were going dorn dofa tho the mountain at a moat most frightful adt a runaway team in front when tho the down grado grade had boon tho the driver usually a careful and vigilant man was so fast asleep that brakes wore not applied as promptly us as was necessary and the horse finding that they were not andr control with tho heavy stag a rushing upon thorn them became at once frightened and nod red in frantic speed down tho the steep descent when whon the driver first awoke and realized tho the situation ho he aoa in midair hav ha ing been violently thrown from hie his scat seat ho ila had had tho the lines wrapped about ilia his hands and wrists and holding badt unconsciously lio lie was being jerked forward in tho the furious leaps of tho the team yet it was but a moment or two until ho lie struck tho the ragged ledge below tho the railway rall way and I 1 disco discovered arod my situation us I 1 heard him utter a horrible horri blo ehrick shriek and then a low moan as of one in the death agony by that timo time tho the lower wheels of tho the stage were off tho the roadway tho the stage itself was on tho the od edgo ge of tho the fearful precipice and tho the axle of tho the vehicle being dragged along over oi or tho the stone wall that supported tho the lower sido side of the roadbed road bed tho the scream of horror klerr ing m my y cars emphasized tho the frightful situation for tho the driver was not only being dashed to death as I 1 supposed in tho the darkness below but there was tho the awful possibility that in tho the next moment the stage and tho the horses would go over tho the brink and land in tho the dismal un known abyss of canyon beneath tho the driver woe was pulling with oil all his weight in tho the direction of that abyss I 1 tho the half upset stage and tho the vigorous jerks of the frightened team in front brought additional horrors to me nevertheless I 1 determined to mako make on an effort to bavo my life if possible in a leap upward so su I 1 sprang out u of tho the stage in a desperate jump from the higher side I 1 reached tho the ground in safety but not a moment too soon the stars were bright overhead and through an opening in tho the forest trees around on cither either hand I 1 saw the lead era cri of tho the team making a desperate desp croto effort to avoid being pulled over tho the precipice tho the alnee still in the hands of the driver below the man clinging to tho ribbons with tho the clutch of death and tho the rough stone edges of the lower wall of tho the roadway ha having ing broken tha the speed sinco since the axle hod had to be dragged forcibly over the anoren surface with swift decision doci aion of mind I 1 saw what must bo be dono done to stay the tragedy so soi I 1 jumped to tho the front the loader leader by tho the bridle rein and at once pulled bis his face free square to tho the upper bank I 1 thus stopped tho the horses and kept tho the stage on the road but chero was tho the dri driver orp this was the harrowing thought now in my mind for tho the mans cries were hushed I 1 cried aloud for him but no answering voice came in noply no sound was heard save the echo from tho the opposite wall of tho the canyon bov ond and and tho the frightful panting of tho the trembling horses now well in my hands again and again I 1 cried la lodar lder and wider and deeper in my ed distress stress but I 1 heard nothing in response save the mocking echoes and tho the heaving bearing sound of tho the restless horses it was tho the most terrible moment of my ray lafo ufo terrt bla beyond ex expression preaston hope grow stronger for the next moment camo another and still another groan this time from a man evidently with vital ital energy and a n hying struggle 1 soon tho the daiv or crawled half dead up the bank but tho the only thing ho he to bo be thankful for and tho the only fact ho he app appeared earod to appreciate was his courage in holding on to the linea whilo while ho he was being da dashed hed and dragged on tho the rocks below bolo I 1 in the darene s the first thing ho lie wanted scon won was tho the manner in which ho lie bad had performed tho the tearful fearful feat of holding alio requal 1 I still trembling held hold the frightened horses against tho the upper banic k doing all I 1 could to quiet tho the acara fearson of tho panting pantin boasts by the aid of matches wo we soon bad had A a good light and tho the situation was fully revealed tho the apor drivel was frightfully mangled and turn torn ono one car being well nigh coverd from tho the head as ho he tho the sharp edge of rocks below I 1 tod up the nian ai best I 1 could we mended the bricen aru ten ilage and got it back into tho the ro id ld arid arld then came tho the elow slow and cautious wad painful descent to the next at tho the foot of tho the ranva a detrel V t sico cc press aa |